Is it time to downsize? There are many reasons for downsizing: financial, environmental, transitioning to an empty nester lifestyle, or simply a desire to simplify one’s life. Whether it’s a home post-retirement or a vacation home or even a home to create a simpler lifestyle, making the move from a larger home to a home with a smaller footprint will take some planning.

The first step to downsizing is to take inventory of your things, as your possessions that currently fit into your larger home simply will not fit in your smaller home. There are dozens of resources which address this process, but deciding what to keep and what to get rid of is the most critical part of this process. Try the Kondo Marie method of focusing on what items you love and what items bring you joy. By process of elimination, the remaining items that do not, should be thrown away, sold or donated. An exciting part of downsizing is letting go of things that you don’t absolutely need, which helps you to focus on what is important.

Grouping like items together is another way to visualize what items you need to get rid of. For example, putting all of your baking and cooking items into groups can help you identify whether you have duplicates of items as well as items that you’ve never used at all. You may not have space in your new downsized home to house small kitchen appliances such as pasta makers or bread makers, especially considering these items may not be used sufficiently to justify taking up precious storage space.

Finally, map out your new space to determine where you are putting the items you are keeping in your new space. Larger furniture items may not be appropriate for the scale of your new home, so winnowing down the larger pieces to one or two favorite pieces will make the transition much easier. Recognize that storage will not be as plentiful for your smaller items, and this will drive your decision-making processes.

While your current large scale house may not be in your future, a home which provides more freedom (financial and otherwise) will be, and that’s something to look forward to! I’m happy to assist you with this major life decision.